RTI Social Auditing unearths discrepancy in Road Repair and Old Age scheme and CMCF in Zunheboto
YouthNet in partnership with Zunheboto Range Students’ Union (ZRSU) held a RTI social auditing and public hearing on the 15th and 16th of November 2011 at Town Hall Zunheboto. Six departments were identified by the public during RTI programme in May in Zunhebto namely; PWD (R&B), PHED, Social Welfare, School Education, Medical and Planning.
On 15 November, the joint team of YouthNet and ZRSU visited all the departments to cross check information received through RTI and actual office records of the departments. The department officials were then invited for the public hearing at Town Hall where they answered the doubts and queries of the public. PWD (R&B), Social Welfare and Planning were found to be least performing departments in terms of proper use of funds allocated to them.
Dept of Planning and Coordination
One of the most unproductive departments was the District Planning Office Zunheboto. Under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund for the year 2009-10, a sum of Rs 21, 50, 000 was distributed to 31 beneficiaries in Zunheboto district. The beneficiaries, in their project had shown various kinds of undertakings such as piggery farm, cutting and tailoring unit, weaving and knitting, handicrafts, motor workshop, carpentry, fruit juicing unit, computer training centre, students’ hostel with coaching facility etc. Surprisingly, the Planning office disclosed that none of the 31 beneficiaries had started their enterprise. The department officials admitted that most of the beneficiaries were of political recommendations and voiced their helplessness. Thus, the amount sanctioned which could have put to productive use by identifying genuine beneficiaries has gone wasted. It has been noted that the District Planning Office Zunheboto was found locked at 1 pm on November 15 when the joint team went to cross check RTI information with the office records.
Dept of Social Welfare
Under the Old Age Pension Scheme, bogus beneficiaries were unearthed. A total amount of Rs 83, 68, 000 was allocated for the year 2008-09 for Zunheboto district. During the year 2009-10, an amount of Rs 92, 56, 000 was received and the same already paid to the beneficiaries.
A total of 1624 beneficiaries under Zunheboto town area were benefited. However, on random visit to 2 colonies out of 13 colonies, to cross check the veracity, GB of North Point Colony Zunheboto, Tokugha revealed about irregularities he found when he went for verification after the beneficiaries had drawn the money. He found that out of the 54 beneficiaries from his colony only 24 were genuine beneficiaries; 8 beneficiaries had expired and the rest 22 beneficiaries were either bogus or unknown.
In another instance GB of Khuwoboto, Nitovi said he drew the fund on behalf of beneficiaries but expressed surprise to see that the amount of a beneficiary by the name Kikhevi was shown as drawn in his name and signature. Nitovi said the particular amount was drawn by the District Welfare Officer Zunheboto. He also brought a witness to substantiate his stand.
Dept of Health and Family Welfare
When the joint team went for inspection at the Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital Zunheboto, many of the Doctors, Nurses and other staff were present. The Hospital was also seen clean. However, an ignorable number of patients were seen at the hospital leading to doubt of the service that the centre was providing. The Medical Superindent (MS) Dr. Ahokhe who represented the Hospital during the social auditing, attributed the low number of patients to the season where less patients usually come.
Dr. Ahokhe claimed that except one doctor who is unwell, all other doctors were regular in their work. This claim was refuted by an audience, who identified himself as Advocate Katovi. The Advocate said hardly three or four doctors were regular in their work and the rest were either in Kohima, Dimapur or other places. “If many of the doctors and nurses were present during inspection, it is because they know that inspection was to be made,” Katovi asserted. He also said emergency doctors were hardly available.
Given the fact that no gynaecologist was available and the limited facility that was available, the audience failed to comprehend when the Hospital representative claimed that 30-40 baby deliveries take place in a month. Dr. Ahokhe said 19 deliveries took place in December 2009 which was the least number of deliveries in a month. Katovi said it was the nurses who actually look after the deliveries with assistance from the MS who is not a gynae specialist.
During social auditing, many young mothers stated that it was too risky to take a long ride to the hospital when they are not were not even sure whether the doctors will be available.
For the year 2009-10 and 2010-11, the hospital received a fund for Rs 5 Lakh and the amount is yet to be fully utilised. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY), Rs 10, 51, 300 was received out of which Rs 3, 53100 was disbursed from June 2009-March 2010. From April 2010-March 2011, an amount of Rs 5, 20, 900 was disbursed. In this case too, the amount is yet to be fully utilized. But there was backlog in JSY. It was found out that the ambulance was non functional and replaced by a Gypsy, the working of the X-ray which was supplied this year was unsatisfactory, and the generator could not carry the load.
The Hospital has a total strength of 93 staff including 11 doctors. What was surprising was that the Hospital was upgraded from 50 bedded to 75 bedded in November 2009 but due lack of infrastructure only 50 beds are functional. The MS said that the up-gradation took place only in name and called for active public involvement. Dr. Ahokhe also said there was no residence for the CMO and MS.
However, this point was jabbed by a representative of Sumi Kiphimi Kuqkhalu, who said that the government was meeting their expenses of house rent, electricity bill etc and so it should not be an excuse for the medical staff to be negligent in their duties.
Doctors during social auditing also stated that no Ministers or MLAs also neglect the hospital and have never visited to inquire about the welfare of the hospital except to visit their ailing supporters sometime.
Dept of PHED
As per office record, the PHED under Zunheboto district has 114 regular employees and 189 work-charge employees. The department is catering to 670 water consumers in Zunheboto town from three main water sources: Melahu, Kelto and Ngozubo by Gravity. It has 24 control boards. The theoretical requirement of drinking water on daily basis is 135 Litre per Capita per Day and the PHED water reservoir has a capacity to store 4 Lakh litres. The department can supply water to the registered households only 4 times (maximum) in a month during plenty season and 2 times (maximum) during lean season.
The water scarcity is high and the reasons for the scarcity are deforestation mostly due to jhuming and logging, small catchment area, natural and man-made disasters. There are few cases where the landowners disconnect the pipes. The department appealed the public to avoid cutting down of trees as much as possible especially wild banana plants.
It was learnt that the department’s 2009 proposal for tapping water from Achikuchu area where Tizu river flows, was rejected by the government saying that the present water sources were enough to meet the needs of the registered consumers. However, the fact that the consumers are getting only 4 times of water supply in a month is itself a proof that the water scarcity is very high and tapping from new sources is a must. The department said that its proposal in 2008 to redesign the water distribution system was also turned down by the government. Some of the hurdles that the department faces include fund constraints for operation and maintenance, shortage of manpower etc.
Dept of School Education
Although there was no government order to collect admission fees, it was found that GHS Project was collecting an admission fee of Rs 700. Pre-Matric Scholarship was not implemented for the year 2009-10 due to shortage of funds. For the year 2010-11, the state government allocated Rs 17 Lakh as 25% of the State share and the central government sanctioned Rs 50.99 Lakh for the same year but the state share is under Civil Deposit and the amount is yet to be released by the Finance Department. Under RMSA, 3 schools were upgraded during 2009-10 and 5 schools upgraded during 2010-11. Under RMSA, Rs 25 lakhs was sanctioned for the strengthening of school program, but it was stated that the State Mission has recalled the said amount.
Dept of PWD (R&B)
One of the worst performing departments was the PWD (R&B) although the main blame went to the contractors who carried out road construction and repair works. During the year 2008-09, Rs 135 Lakh was sanctioned to carry out 12 minor repair works. During 2009-10, Rs 190 Lakh was sanctioned for carrying out 8 minor works. For the year 2010-11, Rs.75 Lakh was sanctioned to carry out one major and 2 minor works. This makes the total amount sanctioned from 2008-11 for road works totalling to Rs 400 Lakh.
All the road repair works were carried out by Techno Construction owned by Vinoka Yepthomi and Mega Construction owned by Inaka Yepthomi. Some of the repaired roads were inspected by the joint team of YouthNet and ZRSU. It was disappointing to see that all the repaired roads had totally worn off. The expected durability of the roads was very low. The roads could be described as one of the worst repair works carried out in Nagaland.
The PWD (R&B) officials were of the view that the use of sub-standard materials and not following the specifications were killing the durability of the roads. EE PWD (R&B) Zunheboto, Er. Manenglepden said that the public should monitor the road construction and repair works by forming committees to overlook the works. SDO PWD (R&B) Zunheboto, Inato said haphazard and random repair works were behind the main causes of the short-term life of the roads.
During the social auditing, the gathering felt that the public must act strongly against such low quality works and take the contractors to remake the road at their own cost and take them to task even in the court of law.
During the social auditing, charts were displayed outside the Town Hall showing the list of beneficiaries under CMCF and the location of road maintenance works carried out by the Techno Construction and Mega Construction. It was decided that the same information would be displayed in town in other forms for public viewing.
Joshua Sheqi
YouthNet
Khuketo Sumi
Zünheboto Range Students Union (ZRSU)
On 15 November, the joint team of YouthNet and ZRSU visited all the departments to cross check information received through RTI and actual office records of the departments. The department officials were then invited for the public hearing at Town Hall where they answered the doubts and queries of the public. PWD (R&B), Social Welfare and Planning were found to be least performing departments in terms of proper use of funds allocated to them.
Dept of Planning and Coordination
One of the most unproductive departments was the District Planning Office Zunheboto. Under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund for the year 2009-10, a sum of Rs 21, 50, 000 was distributed to 31 beneficiaries in Zunheboto district. The beneficiaries, in their project had shown various kinds of undertakings such as piggery farm, cutting and tailoring unit, weaving and knitting, handicrafts, motor workshop, carpentry, fruit juicing unit, computer training centre, students’ hostel with coaching facility etc. Surprisingly, the Planning office disclosed that none of the 31 beneficiaries had started their enterprise. The department officials admitted that most of the beneficiaries were of political recommendations and voiced their helplessness. Thus, the amount sanctioned which could have put to productive use by identifying genuine beneficiaries has gone wasted. It has been noted that the District Planning Office Zunheboto was found locked at 1 pm on November 15 when the joint team went to cross check RTI information with the office records.
Dept of Social Welfare
Under the Old Age Pension Scheme, bogus beneficiaries were unearthed. A total amount of Rs 83, 68, 000 was allocated for the year 2008-09 for Zunheboto district. During the year 2009-10, an amount of Rs 92, 56, 000 was received and the same already paid to the beneficiaries.
A total of 1624 beneficiaries under Zunheboto town area were benefited. However, on random visit to 2 colonies out of 13 colonies, to cross check the veracity, GB of North Point Colony Zunheboto, Tokugha revealed about irregularities he found when he went for verification after the beneficiaries had drawn the money. He found that out of the 54 beneficiaries from his colony only 24 were genuine beneficiaries; 8 beneficiaries had expired and the rest 22 beneficiaries were either bogus or unknown.
In another instance GB of Khuwoboto, Nitovi said he drew the fund on behalf of beneficiaries but expressed surprise to see that the amount of a beneficiary by the name Kikhevi was shown as drawn in his name and signature. Nitovi said the particular amount was drawn by the District Welfare Officer Zunheboto. He also brought a witness to substantiate his stand.
Dept of Health and Family Welfare
When the joint team went for inspection at the Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital Zunheboto, many of the Doctors, Nurses and other staff were present. The Hospital was also seen clean. However, an ignorable number of patients were seen at the hospital leading to doubt of the service that the centre was providing. The Medical Superindent (MS) Dr. Ahokhe who represented the Hospital during the social auditing, attributed the low number of patients to the season where less patients usually come.
Dr. Ahokhe claimed that except one doctor who is unwell, all other doctors were regular in their work. This claim was refuted by an audience, who identified himself as Advocate Katovi. The Advocate said hardly three or four doctors were regular in their work and the rest were either in Kohima, Dimapur or other places. “If many of the doctors and nurses were present during inspection, it is because they know that inspection was to be made,” Katovi asserted. He also said emergency doctors were hardly available.
Given the fact that no gynaecologist was available and the limited facility that was available, the audience failed to comprehend when the Hospital representative claimed that 30-40 baby deliveries take place in a month. Dr. Ahokhe said 19 deliveries took place in December 2009 which was the least number of deliveries in a month. Katovi said it was the nurses who actually look after the deliveries with assistance from the MS who is not a gynae specialist.
During social auditing, many young mothers stated that it was too risky to take a long ride to the hospital when they are not were not even sure whether the doctors will be available.
For the year 2009-10 and 2010-11, the hospital received a fund for Rs 5 Lakh and the amount is yet to be fully utilised. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY), Rs 10, 51, 300 was received out of which Rs 3, 53100 was disbursed from June 2009-March 2010. From April 2010-March 2011, an amount of Rs 5, 20, 900 was disbursed. In this case too, the amount is yet to be fully utilized. But there was backlog in JSY. It was found out that the ambulance was non functional and replaced by a Gypsy, the working of the X-ray which was supplied this year was unsatisfactory, and the generator could not carry the load.
The Hospital has a total strength of 93 staff including 11 doctors. What was surprising was that the Hospital was upgraded from 50 bedded to 75 bedded in November 2009 but due lack of infrastructure only 50 beds are functional. The MS said that the up-gradation took place only in name and called for active public involvement. Dr. Ahokhe also said there was no residence for the CMO and MS.
However, this point was jabbed by a representative of Sumi Kiphimi Kuqkhalu, who said that the government was meeting their expenses of house rent, electricity bill etc and so it should not be an excuse for the medical staff to be negligent in their duties.
Doctors during social auditing also stated that no Ministers or MLAs also neglect the hospital and have never visited to inquire about the welfare of the hospital except to visit their ailing supporters sometime.
Dept of PHED
As per office record, the PHED under Zunheboto district has 114 regular employees and 189 work-charge employees. The department is catering to 670 water consumers in Zunheboto town from three main water sources: Melahu, Kelto and Ngozubo by Gravity. It has 24 control boards. The theoretical requirement of drinking water on daily basis is 135 Litre per Capita per Day and the PHED water reservoir has a capacity to store 4 Lakh litres. The department can supply water to the registered households only 4 times (maximum) in a month during plenty season and 2 times (maximum) during lean season.
The water scarcity is high and the reasons for the scarcity are deforestation mostly due to jhuming and logging, small catchment area, natural and man-made disasters. There are few cases where the landowners disconnect the pipes. The department appealed the public to avoid cutting down of trees as much as possible especially wild banana plants.
It was learnt that the department’s 2009 proposal for tapping water from Achikuchu area where Tizu river flows, was rejected by the government saying that the present water sources were enough to meet the needs of the registered consumers. However, the fact that the consumers are getting only 4 times of water supply in a month is itself a proof that the water scarcity is very high and tapping from new sources is a must. The department said that its proposal in 2008 to redesign the water distribution system was also turned down by the government. Some of the hurdles that the department faces include fund constraints for operation and maintenance, shortage of manpower etc.
Dept of School Education
Although there was no government order to collect admission fees, it was found that GHS Project was collecting an admission fee of Rs 700. Pre-Matric Scholarship was not implemented for the year 2009-10 due to shortage of funds. For the year 2010-11, the state government allocated Rs 17 Lakh as 25% of the State share and the central government sanctioned Rs 50.99 Lakh for the same year but the state share is under Civil Deposit and the amount is yet to be released by the Finance Department. Under RMSA, 3 schools were upgraded during 2009-10 and 5 schools upgraded during 2010-11. Under RMSA, Rs 25 lakhs was sanctioned for the strengthening of school program, but it was stated that the State Mission has recalled the said amount.
Dept of PWD (R&B)
One of the worst performing departments was the PWD (R&B) although the main blame went to the contractors who carried out road construction and repair works. During the year 2008-09, Rs 135 Lakh was sanctioned to carry out 12 minor repair works. During 2009-10, Rs 190 Lakh was sanctioned for carrying out 8 minor works. For the year 2010-11, Rs.75 Lakh was sanctioned to carry out one major and 2 minor works. This makes the total amount sanctioned from 2008-11 for road works totalling to Rs 400 Lakh.
All the road repair works were carried out by Techno Construction owned by Vinoka Yepthomi and Mega Construction owned by Inaka Yepthomi. Some of the repaired roads were inspected by the joint team of YouthNet and ZRSU. It was disappointing to see that all the repaired roads had totally worn off. The expected durability of the roads was very low. The roads could be described as one of the worst repair works carried out in Nagaland.
The PWD (R&B) officials were of the view that the use of sub-standard materials and not following the specifications were killing the durability of the roads. EE PWD (R&B) Zunheboto, Er. Manenglepden said that the public should monitor the road construction and repair works by forming committees to overlook the works. SDO PWD (R&B) Zunheboto, Inato said haphazard and random repair works were behind the main causes of the short-term life of the roads.
During the social auditing, the gathering felt that the public must act strongly against such low quality works and take the contractors to remake the road at their own cost and take them to task even in the court of law.
During the social auditing, charts were displayed outside the Town Hall showing the list of beneficiaries under CMCF and the location of road maintenance works carried out by the Techno Construction and Mega Construction. It was decided that the same information would be displayed in town in other forms for public viewing.
Joshua Sheqi
YouthNet
Khuketo Sumi
Zünheboto Range Students Union (ZRSU)
